Where you will put HRD in the list

[petrov4]

If the list look like that:
AGS-GIA-IGI-EGL...where will put HRD according the reports/grading that they provide exploring the diamonds.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 8/27/2009 11:30:38 AM
Author:petrov4
If the list look like that:
AGS-GIA-IGI-EGL...where will put HRD according the reports/grading that they provide exploring the diamonds.

This link might help, it ranks HRD according to one of the experts.

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/grading.asp

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

The ranking differs depending on what part of their grade.

For colour, I would put HRD first in the sense that they are in many areas stricter than the other reputable labs.
For clarity, I would put HRD third, not far after GIA.
For cut, I would put HRD third again, with the distance to GIA less than before, after they launched their new cut-grade.

In your list, IGI is the problematic one to list. In the U.S., most consumers only see the IGI small format jewelry-reports, which are not of good quality. In other countries however, the real IGI diamond grading-reports are more common, and I hear that they actually are of very good quality.

Live long,

 

[petrov4]

Thank you very much

 

[Rockdiamond]

Here in the states, HRD is not comparable with GIA or AGS- from my experience it''s on the same level with EGL, or IGI.
The HRD reports I''ve seen had very loose grading- although the number of HRDs has been limited..
Part of what hurts HRD in the US ( IMO) is that you so rarely see any of their reports.
For example- I don''t believe many websites selling diamonds show HRD reports.

When it comes to Gem Labs "small", "rarely seen" and boutique is not really a good thing. Therefore, more commonly seen reports are more acceptable here in the US.

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Of course, I forgot about the many NY-based wholesalers, who buy stones with HRD-report in Antwerp, then throw the report away in order to get a GIA-report with a better colour-grade.

As a result, many of the stricter HRD-reports obviously never reach the consumer market.

Live long,

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi Paul,
Without question there are not all that many HRD''s being sold in the US.
In terms of your explaination: how would that explain J colored stones accompanied by an HRD report calling them H?

 

[Upgradable]

My diamond was purchased in Oklahoma City and had an HRD report. It is graded as I SI2. I see no tint at all, and it is totally eyeclean to the definitions used by AGS and GIA. Just to give an acutal consumer opinion.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 8/27/2009 3:27:22 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Hi Paul,
Without question there are not all that many HRD''s being sold in the US.
In terms of your explaination: how would that explain J colored stones accompanied by an HRD report calling them H?

Rock, you''ve seen HRD "H" stones which the GIA graded as "J"?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I would rank as such:

First Tier Labs (consistent and conservative grading):
GIA
AGS
HRD

Second Tier Labs (consistent, but slightly less conservative):
EGL-USA (LA lab slightly over the NY lab)
EGL-Canada
EGL-India
IGI-Europe

Third Tier Labs (consistent, but liberal):
EGL- Antwerp
IGI-USA

Fouth Tier Labs:
EGL-Israel
EGL-Turkey

 

[Rockdiamond]

Date: 8/27/2009 11:48:45 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood

Date: 8/27/2009 3:27:22 PM
Author: Rockdiamond
Hi Paul,
Without question there are not all that many HRD's being sold in the US.
In terms of your explaination: how would that explain J colored stones accompanied by an HRD report calling them H?

Rock, you've seen HRD 'H' stones which the GIA graded as 'J'?

Hi Rich- actually what has happened is that I've been offered stones with HRD reports that I found to be way off.
A few I recall specifically:
I have seen a stone with a lot of tint- I saw it as a J- graded H by HRD.
I also recall a stone I'd have graded Fancy Light Yellow graded fancy Intense Yellow by HRD.
I did not buy the stones, so I never sent them to GIA to get the comparative grade- however the experiences I've had left me with no confidence at all in an HRD grade

Based on this conversation I made some additional calls to other dealers.....most of the ones I spoke to share my view on this
One who is a regular buyer in Antwerp mentioned that HRD is well thought of in Europe.
He had a lot of trouble ever buying stones with HRD reports as there is a product they offer where the diamond is sealed in plastic - which made it very difficult to buy.

If Rich, Paul and others have had good experiences with HRD grades, that would certainly give me reason to reconsider my own experiences regarding the accuracy of the grades. Maybe I have only seen bad ones. I've also seen GIA grades which I felt were off- however I find this to be true in a very small percentage of the ones I've seen- in the case of HRD, many that I've seen were off- especially considering how few we see.


For me, the bottom line is that a consumer is not well served buying a diamond with an HRD report- especially here in the US.
It's not necessarily dependant on how accurate they are.
The main reason I feel consumers are not well served by HRD is the fact that the reports are not as well known.
If a consumer is really taken with a stone that has an HRD report, and they are comfortable with the seller, the report should not stop them from buying- but it's important to mention that there are inherent problems having a lesser known report.
We don't suggest people buy diamonds for investment purposes- however if a consumer finds them self in the position of having to sell a diamond, they are in a far better position with a GIA report.


It's a shame that pretty much any lab trying to go against GIA has a terribly uphill battle. The fact GIA is so well known- especially with consumers- makes them tough to compete against.
HRD may be in a weaker position simply due to the fact that the European market for diamonds is a small fraction of the market in the US- so HRD's reputation in Europe hasn't really made a difference.


Bottom line is that unless there's a real compelling reason, my advice to consumers is to stick with GIA, or AGS

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Date: 8/27/2009 11:54:18 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood
I would rank as such:

First Tier Labs (consistent and conservative grading):
GIA
AGS
HRD

Second Tier Labs (consistent, but slightly less conservative):
EGL-USA (LA lab slightly over the NY lab)
EGL-Canada
EGL-India
IGI-Europe

Third Tier Labs (consistent, but liberal):
EGL- Antwerp
IGI-USA

Fouth Tier Labs:
EGL-Israel
EGL-Turkey

Good analysis Rich. I agree.


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